SGI shoots the messenger

According to our favourite Chinese proverb: "When the finger points at the moon, the idiot points at the finger."

Well, SGI still won't return our calls, but it has sanctioned its marketing staff to roam online fora to diss The Register.

Over at Vis-Sim.org one Juliana Slye - a product manager at SGI - does her best to rubbish our story about the transfer of 3D graphics patents to Microsoft, but forgetfully, omits to add a denial.

As well she might, because the story's true.

"Puhlease," she begins. "The Register is the closest thing you can get to a computational version of the National Enquirer."

Whatever that means. But go on, Jules:

"And as far as 'the sources close to Mountain View' line goes....that's like people who talked to 'my best friend's sister's brother's buddy's mother's friend's dog' to get the exclusive' on whether or not some celebrity is anorexic."

No it isn't, love. It means we're protecting our sources.

Hold your breath for the denial that follows:

"I'm not going to comment about the msoft deal, so don't bother baiting me."

Oh.

And that's it.

This little flounce gets shredded by subsequent posters:

"Calling [The Register] a 'computational version of the National Enquirer' is like calling you an 'SGI PR windbag, let's refrain from both," writes one.

"The disgraceful part is that I know you know that this story is true," adds another.

"Almost everyone in graphics at SGI knows this story is true, so why attack the Register over publishing the truth? It shows a complete lack of integrity."

Perhaps the financial analysts can glean more from management at tomorrow's earnings conference. Even if they don't, we'll be able to see the proof in the coming months as the filings show up in the US Patent Office's database. Perhaps we should mark each one with a special commemorative prize.